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Serum enzyme levels and influencing factors in three indigenous Ethiopian sheep breeds

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Abstract

Serum enzymes were studied in 377 apparently healthy sheep from three indigenous sheep breeds of Ethiopia. The effect of breed, age, sex and season on alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) levels was assessed. The mean serum enzymes levels of the indigenous Menz, Tukur and Wello sheep breeds ranged from 17.2–17.7 IU l−1, AST/GOT from 50.4–56.6 IU l−1, ALP from 93.2–103.9 IU l−1, and AcP from 2.47–2.56 IU l−1, were within the normal range for sheep elsewhere. Season had significant influence on all serum enzymes except for the AcP in Menz breed. Sex had significant effect on AST/GOT for Menz and on ALP for all sheep breeds, with consistently higher values in males than in females. Age was significant only on ALP in the Menz and Tukur breeds. The serum enzyme levels of these indigenous sheep breeds can be used as normal reference values for Ethiopian sheep breeds adapted to similar agro-ecology and production system.

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Abbreviations

AcP:

acid phosphatase

ALP:

alkaline phosphatase

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

AST:

aspartate aminotransferase

GOT:

glutamic oxalacetic transaminases

GPT:

glutamic pyruvic transaminase

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Acknowledgements

The Animal Science Research Program of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) are highly acknowledged for financial support. The contribution of the support staff of the Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Centre (formerly Sheno Agricultural Research Centre) and ILRI in sample collection and laboratory analyses was highly appreciated.

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Author notes

  1. M. Woldemeskel

    Present address: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic & Investigational Laboratory, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA

  2. J. E. O. Rege

    Present address: ILRI, Biotechnology Theme, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Debre Berhan Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

    M. Tibbo & K. Aragaw

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

    M. Woldemeskel

  3. International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    M. Tibbo & J. E. O. Rege

  4. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria

    M. Tibbo

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  1. M. Tibbo
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  4. J. E. O. Rege
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Correspondence to M. Tibbo.

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Tibbo, M., Woldemeskel, M., Aragaw, K. et al. Serum enzyme levels and influencing factors in three indigenous Ethiopian sheep breeds. Comp Clin Pathol 17, 149–155 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-008-0735-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-008-0735-1

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